Nigeria is set to host its premier global tech event, GITEX Nigeria, with expectations of attracting over 1,000 startups and international investors, further establishing the country as a hub for digital talent.
After a decade of sustained efforts, the tech agency secured the bid to host the event, which is scheduled for September 1-4, 2025, in Abuja and Lagos.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Abdullahi, made this announcement at GITEX Africa 2025 in Morocco on Tuesday.
He said the event would mark a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s efforts to integrate more deeply with the global tech ecosystem and boost local innovation.
“After more than a decade of participating in GITEX events abroad, Nigeria will finally bring the experience home. This means more of our people—startups, students, innovators—will gain direct access to global investors, partners, and opportunities,” Abdullahi said.
Abuja, the federal capital, will host sessions focused on digital policy and artificial intelligence strategy, while Lagos, Africa’s most vibrant startup city, will spotlight innovation, entrepreneurship, and deal-making.
The event is organised in collaboration with KAOUN International, the company behind GITEX Africa and GITEX Global. The hosting agreement was signed in May 2024 by Abdullahi and Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International.
Abdullahi emphasised that hosting GITEX in Nigeria would democratize access to global opportunities and help correct misconceptions about the country’s tech scene.
“Sometimes, the international media doesn’t reflect the true image of Nigeria. But when investors and global partners visit, they experience our energy, talent, and innovation firsthand,” he said.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s youthful population as key to shaping the country’s digital future, noting that more than 70 per cent of Nigerians are under the age of 25.
“You cannot build a thriving digital economy without talent, and Nigeria is rich in human capital. The government is embedding digital skills in education and working to make Nigeria a talent-exporting nation,” Abdullahi added.
GITEX Nigeria is expected to serve as a launchpad for deeper global engagement with Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, allowing startups to showcase their products, forge international partnerships, and attract investment.
“With GITEX Nigeria, we are connecting policy with innovation, linking Abuja with Lagos to drive transformation and create lasting value,” Abdullahi said.
Speaking on the partnership, LohMirmand said the mission behind GITEX Nigeria went far beyond organizing a government-sponsored tech exhibition. Instead, she emphasized that the goal was to strengthen local ecosystems by linking them with global innovation networks.
“We are not interested in going into partnership with the government to create shows,” LohMirmand said. “There’s no such thing as a show. What we want to do is forge and strengthen ecosystems.”
LohMirmand further explained that KAOUN’s role would be similar to steering an intelligent vehicle—not entirely autonomous, but guided—ensuring meaningful connections and outcomes.
“We’re going to be the machine that connects you,” she said, describing KAOUN’s facilitative role in linking Nigeria’s startup ecosystem with the rest of the world.
Highlighting the growing importance of international collaboration in the emerging AI economy, LohMirmand noted that “no country or city can operate in isolation, especially as the AI economy grows.
It is increasingly vital for startups and SMEs to benchmark themselves globally and stay informed about cutting-edge research and development.”
“We’ve heard about the innovations coming from the US and China,” she added. “Startups must understand global trends and developments to compete and thrive.”
